Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126338
l-< V ..0 8 V > o Z The CCM is light for a thumper at 239 Ibs. wet. Hollow axles, magnesium hubs and a frame tube oil reservoir help reduce weight. Note the triangulated. buttressed shock mount. quality welds and chrome. r During the past six years Alan Clews has continued to refine and update his reation to the point there is hardly a pan left on the CCM which is original "BSA and the present models them selves ar e as advanced and exotic as the latest works bikes from across the "Chann el and over the sea. 1 There are numerous displacement models available from CCM and thei r oAmerican distributor , Aero P.A ., who , provided us with our 580cc test . model: In . -250cc: Not quick enough in its class ee, for motocross. but ideal for an enduro or trail bike. Cylinder pans same as old BSA. °498cc: Available as either a long -roro stroke (84mm bore x 90mm 'loq stroke) or short stroke (88mm x I Ii 82mm), with the shan stroke n model used by CCM factory riders qo . Bob W right and john Banks for MX FIM rac es. " ~5 5 0cc : Enduro model (88mm x "I 90m m) with ligh ting" generator r.lJ and 4 speed . n °580cc: Unlimi ted class machine (90mm x 90mm) with 5 speed. Special combinations can be ordered from the above in the form of enduro or motocross models with 5 or 4-speed gearboxes. Our test bike with 580cc had the op · tional new Quaife 5·speed gearbox which is much improved over the older BSA derived 4-speed. Improvements include gears riding on needle bearings, heavy duty dogs , and a splined clutch shaft versus the older BSA style taper shaft. Once you feel the broad powerband of a CCM you'll quickly realize why. only a 5·speed is necessary. Most starts can be made in second gear with second and , third remaining the ma in work gears. First isn't needed except in ultra tight cor ners. While the 498cc is the biggest CCM that can be entered in 500cc class World Championship races, th e 580cc is legal for AMA ra ces. Like I men tioned previously. Alan Clews wasn't one to let progress pass him by. and in this respect the 'CCM is as mod ern as any factory bike. Suspension at each end offe 50":",,1 1.25 _i nc~es pf ~r.a.vel ~~ With over eleven inches travel. these CCM forks work as well as any, with CCM air/spring forks up front and large bodied Girling gas shocks out back. Wheelbase is 57-58 inches depending on chain adjustment. Weight is suprisingly light at 228 lbs . dry, or 259 lbs. fully gassed and ready to roar. What really impresses you about the bike is its quality. In this respect it has to be the world's best made motorcycle. Except for the rear shocks nearly every other pan from the forks to the frame and handlebars is built by CCM. Clews is a stickler for quality and onl y he can build pans good enough to suit him. Take for example the forks. Besides offerin~ 11.25 inches of travel and air /springs, th e tubes are hefty 58mm no-flex units . The triple clamps and the lower slider legs are cast from magnesium . Taper roller bearing with seals are used in the steering head. There's teflon piston rings on the internal dampening pistons and a long negative spri ng to provide more responsive spring rates on bumps ne ar full extension. T hey're probably even bette r th an th e top rated Simons forks , an d if you could buy the .cG¥-- wits separately they'd probably cost around $500. The rest of the bike is just as im pressive . The beautifully welded Reynolds frame is copper, nickel, then chrome plated. CCM wheel hubs with extremely offset - axle bearings help cut down on wheel flex. Chain adjustment is by cam tensioner at the swingarm pivot . Axles are hollow . Brake shoes are externally adjustable for perfect ' centering in the magnesium hubs. Most all bolts are allen head. Even the cadmium plated handlebars with their unique reinforcement braces are CCM . The list of goodies is endless. The engine is just as beautiful. The only pans in common with the original BSA unit are the flywheels and the main bearings. Pans like the ligh tened and redesigned CCM camshaft can still retro-fit older BSA engines, though. Besides new cylinders and engine cases designed by CCM, improvements include th ings like a new pressure oil feed to the rocker box. Engine oil, of course, is stored in the frame with a paper filter easily accessible at the bottom of the front : ' " : • • , '. : . ' .' rCoriJin uea to page39} ?5